29/05/2022
“THE PEOPLE HAVE WON AGAIN”
*BEING THE ACCEPTANCE SPEECH OF MR. PHILIP AGBESE ON HIS NOMINATION AS THE ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CANDIDATE FOR ADO/OKPOKWU/OGBADIBO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY ON SUNDAY MAY 29, 2022*
1. I am deeply humbled that my people, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency have spoken and firmly expressed their choice that I am your candidate in the 2023 election for the House of Representatives. The sense of humility I feel arose from the fact that your choice was made from a field of rich aspirants, who equally possess rich credentials. Let me empathically state that the trust that you have expressed in me is not misplaced and I shall do everything humanly possible to exceed your expectations.
2. The outcome of the primary, which nominated me as the APC candidate for Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency seat election, is a victory for Enone. Because I am confident that this feat would be repeated at the General Elections when we take on candidates of other political parties, I confidently say the people have won again. Consequently, I am thankful that our people decided on winning.
3. My appreciation therefore goes to our political leaders at the national, state, zone, local government, and ward levels. I thank all the leaders of Enone, particularly his Excellency, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chief (Barr) John A. A. Ochoga, Chief Sylvester Ameh, Gen. Chris Garuba and other distinguished elders and leaders too numerous to mention in a short speech of this nature.
4. I am also grateful to our ever kind and benevolent leader, His Excellency Dr. George Akume (the Honourable Minister of Special Duties), His Excellency, Dr. Sam Ode mni, the Benue State APC Chairman - Comrade Austin Agada and leaders of the various political parties in Benue South, Alhaji Usman Abubakar.
5. My gratitude further goes to the APC Local Government chairmen and excos in Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo Local Government Areas, the 35 ward chairmen in this jurisdiction and all our supporters and fans. Your unlimited support made it possible to have the level playing field that allowed the primary election to take place as a family affair, one that was devoid of untoward rancour.
6. This speech would not be completed without me expressing my appreciation to the co-contestants in the exercise. I wish to specifically acknowledge the maturity displayed by Oche Sunday Oche and Agada Ene Linda. We individually toured the 35 wards and campaigned very hard. I invite you to remain part of the process as we work for APC’s victory in the General Elections to ensure that the party gives quality representation to Enone in the House of Representatives through my victory at the polls. It is the sure way of ensuring that our people continue the winning streak that has been birthed with the successful conduct of this primary.
7. I want to thank the Campaign Organization that made this happen. I thank friends and family, who sent in contributions from every part of the world to ensure that our logistics did not lag.
8. On this note, I appeal to you all that the work is just starting. What we did in convincing our party members about the quality representation that Enone can have in the National Assembly must now be repeated with the general population of the electorate in our constituency. Let us get to work to make it happen.
9. Finally, my expression of appreciation would not be complete without apologizing to those whom we might have been inadvertently hurt or offended in the course of the campaign and struggle for the party’s ticket. I take responsibility for any such hurt and apologize. Arising from this is an urgent need for reconciliation so that we will remain one indivisible family that we are. I, therefore, appeal to elders and leaders of the party to immediately chart the course for fence-mending and reconciliation to ensure that the APC in Enone and the entire Benue state go into the General Election as a formidable force.
10. God bless us all.
11. Thank you.
*Comrade Philip Agbese*
APC House of Representative Candidate
Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency